The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has urged young Nigerians to embrace optimism and project a positive image of the country through responsible public discourse.

Mr Alausa made the call on the sidelines of the flag-off ceremony of a 1,500-bed student hostel project at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in Lagos.

He warned that persistent negative narratives, particularly on social media, could damage Nigeria’s international reputation, undermine investors’ confidence and limit economic opportunities.

The minister said the administration of President Bola Tinubu remained committed to youth empowerment, demonstrating both political will and financial investment in their development.

“When you continue to project negativity, you undermine the image of the country and, in the process, limit opportunities for yourselves and others across various sectors of the economy,” he said.

Mr Alausa noted that Nigeria still offered vast untapped opportunities for individuals willing to identify and harness them for personal growth and national advancement.

He stressed that the federal government placed strong emphasis on youth welfare and development, describing young people as the nation’s heartbeat and future leaders driving transformation and growth.

According to him, investing in youth development remains critical to Nigeria’s future, as young Nigerians are expected to drive innovation, progress, and national transformation.

The minister recalled that the hostel project, facilitated by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, is being executed in collaboration with Integrated Projects Hostel Development.

He further said that the Presidency, through TETFund, had introduced a five-point agenda for tertiary institutions covering the rehabilitation of student hostels, classrooms, lecture theatres and auditoriums.

 (NAN)